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Buffalo State Launches New Advanced Manufacturing Certificate Program

Posted: July 17, 2015

Today’s employers are in need of an increasing number of skilled workers to fill positions in the advanced manufacturing field. Buffalo State is paving the way for Western New York adults, especially women, minorities and veterans, to attain the required skills for those positions.

A $230,000 grant from JP Morgan Chase & Co. and a $92,500 grant from the New York Department of Labor will fund the new advanced manufacturing training certificate program.

The 12-month Basic Machine II Operator Certificate course is being held on campus in the state-of-the-art Technology Building. Free to participants, the program is offered in partnership with local employers so that graduates will be prepared to fill high-demand advanced manufacturing jobs currently available in Western New York.

Rachel Elzufon, a journalist with WKBW-TV, conducted live and taped interviews with many of the participants as well as the certificate program faculty and staff on July 1.

“The goal is to increase the number of adults, especially women, minorities and veterans, who have the core skills and hands-on-training to meet the demands for advanced manufacturing positions,” said Margaret Shaw-Burnett, associate vice president for continuing professional studies. “Our grants will be training participants for the top-needed positions in Western New York including CNC machinists, machine operators, and production workers.”

Average salaries for these jobs range from $35,000 to $40,000.

Continuing Professional Studies, the Career and Technical Education Department, and the Engineering Technology Department are working in collaboration to offer the certificate program. The program consists of 2,000 hours of instruction—a combination of lectures given by technology professors and industry experts and hands-on equipment training in a manufacturing setting. Training curriculum will be designed in direct partnership with area employers in high-demand industries.

The first class began May 15; the second class will begin August 3. At the end of the program students will receive a National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS) certification and 12 academic credits applicable to a Buffalo State bachelor’s degree in technology.

To be eligible, students must be 18 years or older, have a high school diploma or the equivalent, be unemployed for 20 weeks or more, pass a placement test in English and math, be able to commit to full-time training for eight hours a day, and be available for full-time work upon completion.